The Freaky Trigger Readers’ Poll 2012: #20-#11
“Hi, I’m Sexy Thorin Oakenshield, and I like nothing more than a good sing-song, especially if it’s about gold. Sitting down, standing up — as long as transition metals are involved I’m not fussed. However I must say I was slightly disappointed in the ABBA Gold album, in that gold was only mentioned briefly at the end of ‘Thank You For The Music’. ABBA have a lot to learn from Spandau Ballet in that respect.”
Thanks Thorin. Let’s see if there are any ‘nuggets’ in part three of our countdown!
20. Taylor Swift - I Knew You Were Trouble (Youtube)
I think we can all agree that Taylor teaming up with Max Martin was definitely a good idea. This is the dubstep one (except not really).
19. Kylie - Timebomb (Youtube)
Kylie is one of the few people who can really sell one-note melodies. This is probably my favourite of her singles since “The One”.
=17. Nicki Minaj ft 2 Chainz - Beez In The Trap (Youtube)
One of my personal favourites of 2012! Nicki goes super-minimal here, forcing her simple diss to take the front stage and get firmly lodged in your head. Warning: the video = kinda NSFW, dudes…
=17. Icona Pop ft Charli XCX - I Love It (Youtube)
The spirit of Lolita Storm lives on!
16. Jessie Ware - 110% (Youtube)
FINALLY I have figured out who Jessie reminds me of — Margaret Berger! She has the same gentle touch, dancing in and out of the soft whirry beats. Basically Jessie is more of a Jet Li than a Jean-Claude Van Damme.
15. Cher Lloyd - Want U Back (Youtube)
Fantastic bratty pop from X Factor‘s overachieving Class of 2010. (Click here for the UK version with Astro’s rap)
14. Santigold - Disparate Youth (Youtube)
This was used on an advert recently but I was concentrating far too hard on how awesome Santigold sounded to pay attention to whatever was being advertised. It won’t cause any riots but the reflective dub-skank is right up my street.
13. Jessie Ware - Wildest Moments (Youtube)
Or maybe she’s more like Kylie in the Streetfighter movie?
12. Plan B - ill Manors (Youtube)
Now THIS might get the flaming torches lit. A cracking sample and an unstoppable stream of bile against the government. TO THE BASTILLE!
11. Solange - Losing You (Youtube)
For better or worse, this particular wheel of pop is firmly pointing towards INDIE.
katstevens in FT • poll 2012 • 246 views
As ever, the list throws up stuff that I hadn’t heard, which are better than my 20, or things I had forgotten. That said I have hit four so far I think which is higher than normal, and am expecting at least two in the top ten. How did I forget Ill Manors…
Kat – please write about music more, your blurbs are gold, and you are one of the few people on the internet who can make me want to click a youtube link! (sorry all other pals who are music writers, you are the other exceptions!)